Himself heart-broken with the loss of his young son, father still had the heart to save others 

Consents for Organ Donation & Gives Second Chance at Life to 2 & Gift of Sight to 1 more at PGIMER 

Chandigarh: 24th July, 2023: (Kartika Singh/Arth Parkash)::

“Our tragedy is too gruesome for words. We don’t want to focus on Anuj Kumar being gone or how he died.  We want to focus on the positive, and that’s what Organ Donation has taught us to do. It seems Anuj’s  life had a purpose. His mortal journey has ended because others were to live because of him through Organ Donation, We are trying to draw consolation from the fact that in his short time on earth, Anuj was able to do more than many can achieve in a lifetime of hundred years,” said Amar Nath, the grieving but brave-heart father of the donor Anuj Kumar as he was handed over the body of his deceased son at the mortuary of PGMER.

Setting another example to emulate, the donor’s brother-in-law Vikas Kumar pledged for organ donation by filling up form no 7 and motivated other family members as well to pledge for organ donation. 

Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER, expressing his gratitude to the donor family, said, “Every donation is a reiteration of faith and continuation of life. It is the exemplary courage of the donor families like that of donor Anuj Kumar from Yamunanagar that sustains the deceased donation programme.” 

“Also appreciable are the determined efforts by the entire PGIMER team involved in the process which enabled the noble wish of the family translate into reality by impacting three lives through transplantation.” underpinned Director PGIMER.  

An employee of private company, 28 years old Anuj Kumar from village Jaipur, tehsil Jagadhari, district Yamunanagar, Haryana suffered grievous head injuries in a freak accident after his scooter was hit by a speeding two–wheeler with three heavily drunken men riding on it, on 7th July. Immediately, the family and friends rushed fatally injured Anuj to local Civil Hospital in Yamuna Nagar. 

Anuj Kumar’s condition being precarious, he was referred to PGIMER and was admitted here on the morning of 8th July. However, the inevitable had to happen and Anuj Kumar’s week long struggle between life and death came to a halt as he was declared brain-dead on 15th July after duly following the protocols of THOA here at PGIMER. 

Despite being no more, his legacy will live on in three others

Even in this darkest hour and amid his own grief, the father Amar Nath along with other family members showed exceptional courage by consenting to donate the organs of his young son when the option of Organ Donation was flagged to him by the Transplant Coordinator on duty in PGIMER.

“My son Anuj Kumar was the sunshine of our lives. So amiable and good natured he was that wherever he went, people were drawn to him. He had a heart of gold and would go out of the way to help others without caring for his own comforts. Despite being no more, his legacy will live on in three others and their families that are being touched as a result.”, said Amar Nath after consenting for organ donation of his deceased son. 

Following the family’s consent, the medical team harvested both Kidneys and one Cornea for transplant. Once the donor organs became available, everyone acted fast …the labs, the transplant teams, the intensive care unit, completing their jobs at hand within timelines to save precious lives.    

Detailing about the recipients who got a second lease of life, Prof. H.S. Kohli, Head, Deptt. of Nephrology, PGIMER stated, “The recipient of one kidney was 44 year old male who has been on hemodialysis since 2011. He is farmer by occupation and father of two children. After being on dialysis for more than a decade, he is now fortunate recipient of deceased kidney transplantation done on 16th July.” 

“Another recipient is a 41 year old teacher who left her job since 2017 because of kidney disease. She is mother of two children, with one child being differently abled. She has now received a kidney under the deceased donor transplant conducted on 16th July.” 

Organ Donation is the Bedrock of Deceased Organ Donation Programme

The retrieved cornea from the donor Anuj Kumar restored the sight of one more corneal blind patient after transplantation.  This way, three lives have been impacted with the generous decision of organ donation by the family of donor Anuj Kumar.

Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent PGIMER & Nodal Officer, ROTTO (NORTH), while expressing his views, stated, “Consenting  for organ donation is the bedrock of deceased organ donation programme. That’s why any words will fall short to explain the generosity of the donor families like that of Anuj Kumar. Through their magnanimous gesture, the donor family has conveyed a very strong message to pledge for organ donation. Even the donor’s brother-in-law pledged for organ donation, which is hugely motivational. Such inspiring acts can turn the balance of organ donation in a huge way.”